THE GREATNESS OF GOD

 

One cannot help but be enamoured with Enoch and his accomplishments when one reads Moses 7 in Pearl of Great Price: the man who founded ‘the City of Holiness, even Zion’ (v19); the man who spoke with such power that ‘the earth trembled, the mountains fled, and people could not stand to be in his presence’ (v13); the man who earned the right to see God face to face and conversed with Him ‘even as a man talks one with another’ (v4); the man who cried so bitterly because of his anguish over the people and the earth that ‘all eternity shook’ (v41).

 

Today as I re-read Moses 7, I became overwhelmed with someone far greater than Enoch. In the course of Enoch’s interaction with Him, Enoch summaries the greatness of the God: “Were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths like this, it would be a BEGINNING to the number of Thy creations….” (v30). God then proceeds to tell Enoch that He can hold ALL the creations which He has made in His hands and His eye can ‘pierce’ them all (v36). My finite mind cannot grasp this on any level. The greatness of God touched upon in scripture is too vast to enumerate here yet alone to understand with our mortal finite minds.

 

Enoch was not only privileged to see God’s full glory but a side of His godship that astounded Him when He witnessed the God of heaven weeping over His children (v 28-31). Despite His omniscience and omnipotence, God revealed His most important role, that of a Father. In Mormon 7:7, we read that Jesus has brought to pass the redemption of the world which can bring us into the presence of God to enjoy ‘everlasting happiness’ (Mormon 7:7). I have always believed we would have everlasting happiness in next life but have at times wondered how that can be for those who become gods and continue to have children forever, knowing the mental anguish and sorrow children can cause. But there is hope: In Doctrine & Covenants 18:15, we are told if we bring even one soul to Christ, how great shall be our joy in the kingdom of the Father. If our joy will be great, imagine the Father’s joy to see the return of many of His children. Losing a third of your children is devastating but retaining two thirds means hope of great joy, suggesting perfect balance exists in His kingdom and in His noble character.

 

Let us not forget that the Father and the Son are one and the greatness of one is the greatness of the other in creation, power, glory and majesty (D&C 50:43; 93:3; 3 N 11:27; John 14:9-11). They are also one in their role of Father (Ether 4:7; Alma 11:38-9; Mosiah 15:4; 16:5). Whereas God the Father is the father of our spirits, The Son is our spiritually begotten Father. Through Him who willingly laid down His life so that we might live, we can, like the prodigal, return into the loving arms of the Father of all creation. May we honour the greatness of Him who holds us in the palm of His hand through the life that we live that we might be the source of His joy now and forever.

 

 

 

I cannot fathom

The greatness of Thy Godhood.

I cannot contain

Who Thou art,

Your immensity overflows my heart.

I am so small

And you are so vast;

Broaden my vision Father

And grant me proficient eyes,

Endow me to comprehend

Beyond the ages of the wise.

- CATHRYNE ALEN

(Artist Unknown)

THE HUMBLE GOD

 

Through my study of the scriptures I have counted 18 of Christ’s characteristics, the most prominent of which for me, had been ones of power and mercy. I recently came to understand one of His virtues which I had not paid much attention to before, the virtue of humility.

 

This is the scripture which made me reflect on the extraordinary nature of His character as a God: “Therefore, I command you to build a house unto me, for the gathering together of my saints, that they may WORSHIP ME” (D&C 115:8). Can you imagine the amount of humility it would require to say such a thing for a God of perfect attributes and devoid of pride? It would have to be someone who knows perfectly who he is, is confident in that knowledge and most of all, has a purity of spirit and heart. Compare this to Lucifer’s desire to be worshipped (Moses 4:1-4).

 

It amazes me that someone so powerful who calls himself ‘the king of heaven’ (2 N 10:14), who can create worlds and annihilate them by the power of His word (Helaman 12:9-17; D&C 63:4) can be so humble. Until now I have only seen Christ’s power in His self-declarations but have overlooked the humility. 

 

This is why this is important for us: Christ’s humility made it possible for Him to condescend to be born to a lowly life: in a stable, a carpenter, willing to be subjected to ridicule and unacceptance. You might say he experienced mortal life at ‘ground zero’. And in doing so he ‘descended below all things that he might comprehend all things’ (D&C 88:6). What things? Our difficulties, our sorrows, our sins, our imperfections, our sufferings, our inabilities, our mortal weakness. The added bonus was access to our individual lives through the Atonement where He learnt what it was like to be you and me.

 

Imagine a God leaving His exalted throne and all that comes with it, to be rejected, spat upon, scourged, reviled and crucified. Imagine the humility it would take to subject yourself to all that, despite the power within your grasp. Embrace the beating of your cherished heart, you were worth it. 

 

Did your angels miss You

When you left Your glorious throne?

Did their voices echo in the lowly stable

When you were so humbly born?

Did they weep for you

When you had to suffer alone?

Will they rejoice at Your return

And sound their trumps

To herald their joy?

And will they praise You forever

As you reclaim Your exalted throne?

- Cathryne Allen